Japanese music edition: roundup of Christmas songs. New tracks and classic favorites [2026]

GIFTNissy(Nishijima Takahiro)

Nissy (Takahiro Nishijima) / “GIFT” Music Video

A winter song set in a snowy town that portrays feelings for someone special.

Nissy’s delicate vocals gently weave together the city’s holiday lights in the falling snow, a lover waiting at the station, and tender affection for that person.

The lyrics overflow with a bittersweet desire to keep the one you love all to yourself and with earnest expressions of love, wrapping the listener’s heart in warmth.

Released as a digital-only single in December 2014, it was later included on the 2016 album “HOCUS POCUS.” The music video features Moeka Nozaki and unfolds a beautiful visual world like a short film.

Beloved by fans as a winter staple, it’s a song perfect not only for spending Christmas with your partner, but also for those quiet winter nights when you find yourself thinking of someone.

On the holy nightKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi 'On the Holy Night'

A warm love song by Ketsumeishi that portrays a couple’s first Christmas together.

Released in November 2007 as a double A-side single with “Fuyu Monogatari,” this track is filled with the excitement of a special holy night spent with a loved one amid bustling crowds and sparkling illuminations.

With a medium tempo and the comfortable flows of Ryo and Ōkura gently tickling the ears, it’s easy to hum along even for those who aren’t into rap.

It reached No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and earned Gold Disc certification.

The music video features Kei Tanaka, and its drama-style direction heightens the Christmassy thrill even more.

It’s the perfect song for a Christmas date—one to listen to while savoring the joy of spending the holiday with your partner this year.

wishasmi

wish – asmi (Official Music Video)

Singer-songwriter asmi from Osaka.

Released digitally in November 2022, this work is her first Christmas song under her solo name.

The lyrics, which sing about the warm feelings you get in a winter city, evoke the anticipation of spending special time with someone.

With its relaxed, lyrical sound and asmi’s charming vocals, it’s sure to color the holy night.

A pop ballad born in the Reiwa era, perfect for a quietly spent Christmas Eve with someone special.

Gaming Party Xmaszettakun

Zettakun – “Gaming Party Xmas” Music Video

This is the second major digital single, released in November 2020.

Built around a sample of a classic Christmas song, it portrays the emotional stirrings of a protagonist who usually spends their time immersed in games, as they consider heading out to a party to see someone they’re interested in.

Their struggle between the loneliness of not fitting in at large gatherings and the desire to connect socially is something many today can relate to.

The sound is striking, rooted in hip-hop while incorporating pop and electronic elements.

A remix version was released in 2021 and was also included on the album “Bed in Wonderland.” It’s a Christmas song that shines with Zetttakun’s characteristically mild perspective, suggesting that spending Christmas gaming isn’t so bad after all.

Mont BlancIkuta Erika

Erika Ikuta “Mont Blanc” Lyric Video

Since graduating from Nogizaka46, Erika Ikuta has been forging her path as a solo artist.

Released in November 2024, this track is her first song themed around winter.

On a Christmas night when lovers gather, it delicately portrays the feelings of a protagonist spending the evening alone, layering the sweetness of a cake they ordered with the aching sadness of an unattainable love.

The lyrics, where the dream of a pure love like a white shortcake intersects with the bittersweetness of reality, will resonate in the stillness of a winter night.

A gentle arrangement anchored by piano highlights her clear, translucent voice, evoking a nostalgic mood.

It’s a Reiwa-era Christmas ballad that quietly stays by your side on a holy night spent alone.

PresentAwich

Present

The hip-hop artist Awich from Okinawa released a song in December 2020 that was created as an insert track for the film “Silent Tokyo.” The title carries a double meaning—“gift” and “the present”—and, in her own words, conveys the message that “each of our existences is the greatest present.” It’s an R&B-infused number built on gentle piano and a subdued beat, with lyrics interweaving English and Japanese that are sure to resonate.

Centered on appreciating a loved one’s very existence, it’s a warm track perfect for those spending Christmas with someone special.

On Christmas nightYUTORI-SEDAI

YUTORI-SEDAI – On Christmas Night - [Official Music Video]

This release by YUTORI-SEDAI, a three-piece band from West Tokyo, dropped digitally in November 2021 and is a ballad that straightforwardly captures the feeling of wanting to see someone special on Christmas night.

While the narrator blames their trembling legs on the cold, in truth they’re wrapped in the nervous tension of love—a delicate inner state expressed with great care.

Ryouki Kanehara’s tender, heartrending vocals resonate over the band’s unhurried performance, taking nearly six minutes to carefully convey the nuances of emotion.

It’s a winter night love song that expands on YUTORI-SEDAI’s signature world—lyrics about love that invite empathy.

A perfect track for anyone spending that moment when you wish to confess your feelings to someone you like.